INDIANAPOLIS - The Oct. 9 elections in Afghanistan were a "transformation" for the people of Afghanistan, and there are lessons that can be applied to Iraq as its elections approach, said Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers today.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge formally announced his resignation today.

WASHINGTON - Some of the nation's top researchers were lauded today for their efforts in helping the Defense Department meet environmental challenges that impact military readiness.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin vowed today to continue working together to protect their homelands and ensure that their borders remain closed to terrorists but open to general travel and trade.

FORT LEE, Va. - Anyone can show support for military families this holiday season with a "Gift of Groceries."

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORYAN, Iraq - A year ago, New York National Guardsman Spc. Brian Williams was ready to deploy to Iraq with his unit.

WASHINGTON - Frequent fliers with American Airlines can donate $25 to sponsor a holiday care package for deployed troops that includes a 100- minute prepaid AT&T calling card, toiletries, disposable cameras and sunscreen.

WASHINGTON - The sixth annual Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award was presented today at the Defense Manufacturing Conference in Las Vegas.

WASHINGTON - While the need for emergency services to help military servicemembers and their families has risen with recent and continued deployments in the global war on terror, donations to the organizations that provide such services have not kept pace.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - The narrow gravel path leads to a cluster of mobile tactical shelters at Fort Detrick's "Area B," 400 acres of farmland on this Maryland base. A brown sign marks the Field Identification of Biological Warfare Agents, or FIBWA, Laboratory Training Site. Inside, the air conditioning is blasting while Top 40 music plays from a portable stereo atop a file cabinet. Two laboratories, each with four workstations, adjoin a central tactical shelter that serves as a conference room.

WASHINGTON - Seven 4th Infantry Division soldiers, including the assistant division commander for support, were killed Nov. 29 when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed while flying from Fort Hood, Texas, to check on progress in repairing vehicles damaged in Iraq.

NORWELL, Mass. - Having distributed $100,000 in prepaid calling cards to deployed troops free of charge through their "Cell Phones for Soldiers" program, it would be easy for Brittany and Robbie Bergquist to pack it in and go back to being full-time kids.

WASHINGTON - About three months after decisive combat operations ended in Iraq's Najaf province, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit commander declared today that Iraqi security forces have formally assumed local control.

WASHINGTON - A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated at approximately 10:20 a.m. today in western Baghdad, Iraq.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing to find the three civilian crewmembers and three U.S. military passengers who were on board a CASA 212 civilian fixed-wing aircraft that was reported missing in Afghanistan Nov. 27.

WASHINGTON - Iraq's interim government is committed to holding free and fair elections throughout the country as planned on Jan. 30 and is actively working to prepare for that end, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said today in London.

WASHINGTON - Two coalition soldiers were slightly wounded following the detonation of an improvised explosive devise outside of a local police compound near Orgun-e in Afghanistan Nov. 28.

WASHINGTON - A laminate that protects NASCAR racecar windshields from rocks and debris will soon give extra protection to Army helicopters flying in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Marine Gen. Peter Pace met thousands of U.S. servicemembers during a swing through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Nov. 20-24.

WASHINGTON - Two Task Force Baghdad soldiers were killed when their patrol struck an improvised explosive device in northwestern Baghdad, Iraq, today.

WASHINGTON - First Infantry Division soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, detained eight suspected anti-Iraqi fighters near Duluiyah, Iraq, following an attack on their combat patrol today.

WASHINGTON - Two coalition allies, Singapore and Denmark, have agreed to extend their countries' support for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Japan is expected to follow suit in the weeks ahead. In addition, Denmark voted to increase its troop strength in Afghanistan and to extend their tour by six months.

WASHINGTON - The men and women of AdoptaPlatoon, a nonprofit group, volunteer their time and energies to support deployed U.S. servicemembers and their families.

POL-E-CHARKHI, Afghanistan - Afghan National Army soldiers with the 3rd Brigade from Pol-e-Charkhi are learning to appreciate what it means to do a little extra for their fellow citizens.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited servicemembers in Afghanistan Nov. 22, passing on an important message of gratitude from people in the United States.

WASHINGTON - Two soldiers were injured and a military vehicle was damaged today after a car bomb exploded in central Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - President Bush in his weekly radio address today thanked servicemembers "who are serving with courage and skill, and making our entire nation proud."

WASHINGTON - An insurgent-placed car bomb exploded on Baghdad's airport road today, damaging two up-armored military shuttle buses.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi, U.S. and British forces rounded up 81 suspected insurgents near Yusufiyah, Iraq, Nov. 25, continuing a three-day-old offensive aimed at restoring security and stability to northern Babil province.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops and civilians serving in Iraq shared and celebrated Thanksgiving Nov. 25 although they were many miles from home.

WASHINGTON - Money contained within the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act will fund a 3.5 percent troop pay raise and eliminate servicemembers' out-of-pocket costs for family housing, DoD's top military personnel official noted.

WASHINGTON - About 18,000 U.S. and coalition soldiers deployed throughout Afghanistan enjoyed Thanksgiving feasts Nov. 25 and were recognized for their service with visits from several senior military and civilian officials.

WASHINGTON - Comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres honored America's servicemembers today on her show, during which she presented $1.2 million in cruises to military families, aired messages from deployed troops, and plugged the Pentagon's new "America Supports You" program.

WASHINGTON - "I chose to serve in the Marine Corps because it has a 'brotherhood' unlike that of any of the other services," said Staff Sgt. Bradley J. Cress.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld discussed troop support, Iraq and other defense issues during a Nov. 23 interview with radio personality Laura Ingraham.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded in an improvised-explosive-device attack in Afghanistan today.

WASHINGTON - American Marines and soldiers who fought in Fallujah faced the toughest warfare possible and did magnificently, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Nov. 23.

WASHINGTON - A new Pentagon group is helping cut through red tape to speed up the process that gets urgently needed off-the-shelf equipment into the hands of troops fighting the war on terror.

WASHINGTON - Mandy Wisenbach and Carolyn Duraski met a few years ago and talk on the phone every day. And though they have never been in the same room -- they met over the Internet -- the two have become such good friends that they joined forces to make sure America's servicemembers are not forgotten.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kevin Harvick drove a service-badged car into victory lane at the Ford 300 Busch Series race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 20.

WASHINGTON - An Iraqi citizen in Balad and a young boy in Samarra are the latest examples of Iraqis helping to rid their country of violence, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported today.

WASHINGTON - AT&T is offering a way for the American public to give servicemembers in certain locations gifts of Internet-usage time.

WASHINGTON - "It may sound funny, but a big part of my desire to join was a sense of patriotic duty that I felt and still feel to this day," said Air Force Master Sgt. Layne P. Berryhill.

WASHINGTON - NATO and U.S. European Command are shedding their Cold War-era structures and mindsets and transforming to more effectively meet 21st-century threats, the commander of U.S. European Command said here today.

WASHINGTON - With so many military families scrambling to ship holiday care packages to their loved ones deployed around the world, the U.S. Postal Service is stepping in to make things a bit easier.

WASHINGTON - DoD's new strategy for helping protect the nation is to have a "forward-deployed active-layered defense," according to the man who helped craft the plan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department military family-support programs are being reshaped or modernized to become more efficient and to reflect today's force, DoD's top family policy official said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and Task Force Danger soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, detained 38 people in a raid near Kirkuk today, according to Multinational Force Iraq.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - During the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, many Iraqi police left their posts, and looters and vandals destroyed most of the police stations in Baghdad. The same was true in major cities throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - There's nothing like a little piece of home to help a deployed servicemember through a long deployment. Operation Homefront Hugs offers just that: periodic care packages and cards from Americans who've "adopted" a servicemember deployed far from home.

WASHINGTON - President Bush promised more U.S. aid to help Colombia fight the drugs and violence that he said threatens not only that nation and Latin America, but also the United States.

WASHINGTON - Wisconsin couple Bernie and Kathy Hintzke wanted to do something special for their 22-year-old son, Adam, who was away in the Army serving in Iraq.

BALAD, Iraq - Army Spc. Bert W. James looks like every soldier here: dust-covered tan desert camouflage uniform, sharp eyes and a calm demeanor. Beneath the surface, there's something that stands out, something distinctive. James is Native American -- full-blooded Navajo -- and carries his culture with pride.

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Vargas is not certified to practice medicine. Nonetheless, he admits it feels good whenever he can prescribe a good dose of fun to boost the morale of injured military members recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

FORT HOOD, Texas - "I think everybody owes something back to this nation, in some sort of service. I found my niche by joining the Army," garrison commander Col. Tori Bruzese said, explaining why she joined the service 23 years ago.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld called published reports that he lobbied against the Senate intelligence bill "nonsense."

WASHINGTON - Terrorists and former regime elements used 66 of the 77 mosques in Fallujah as ammunition bunkers and to plan attacks, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during a press conference today.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces continue operations in Iraq's Anbar province, with Marines consolidating their hold on Fallujah and operations taking place in other areas of the region.

WASHINGTON - Coalition teams continue to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in Eastern Afghanistan, officials said Nov. 21.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan - They are a unique breed of servicemembers on the frontline -- Air Force by service, but Army by trade. Air Force joint tactical-air controllers can be found throughout Afghanistan -- planning, communicating and facilitating the execution of close- air support for ground forces.

WASHINGTON - President Bush met today with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to praise him on progress in fighting narcoterrorists and to reaffirm the United States' support for opposing the drug trade, which Bush said "destroys lives in our countries and threatens the stability of our hemisphere."

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan are maintaining some basic soldier skills on weapons- qualification ranges such as the one set up at Forward Operating Base Salerno.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - Children from across the country held a special nationwide election and chose the military as most deserving of a caring gesture. And to the victors in the Great Community Cookie Election of 2004 go the spoils: 2,004 chocolate chip cookies!

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - The Forward Operating Base Salerno Field Hospital provides medical services to both coalition members and Afghans throughout Regional Command East. By focusing on the other needs the local community has in terms of medical infrastructure, the hospital is helping in countless ways.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - DOD EMALL, the advanced, web-based government electronic marketplace application received one of three David Packard Excellence in Acquisition awards given Nov. 17.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi National Guardsmen, backed by elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, captured 18 insurgents and an assortment of weapons and munitions south of Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 20, Multinational Force Iraq officials announced today.

WASHINGTON - Strict discipline among coalition troops and precision weaponry are credited with ensuring minimal damage to mosques and other sacred buildings during anti-insurgent operations in Fallujah and elsewhere in Iraq, a senior defense official in Baghdad told reporters today.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces continue to scour Fallujah, Iraq, for the last remaining resistance forces in the city while setting up mosques as distribution points for food, water, medicine and other humanitarian supplies, a senior defense official in Iraq told reporters today.

WASHINGTON - As soldiers and Marines in the Iraqi city of Fallujah provide humanitarian aid to citizens while still fighting pockets of resistance, they continue to make "significant finds" of weapons, U.S. Central Command's second-in-command told reporters here Nov. 19.

WASHINGTON - One often-repeated question from forward-deployed troops today is some form of: "Does America support what we're doing over here?"

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - From their desks miles away from the forward operating bases, Combined Task Force Coyote engineers are improving the lives of deployed soldiers and Marines.

WASHINGTON - The Tomb of the Unknowns sits atop a rise overlooking Arlington National Cemetery and the city of Washington. Within the white marble monument lie the unknown remains of soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told a group of DoD career employees today that the country and world are better because of their accomplishments.

WASHINGTON - The successful military operation in Fallujah, Iraq, needs to be followed by an equally successful reconstruction operation, and the United States and Iraq are poised to begin that effort perhaps within the next week or two, officials told Pentagon reporters today.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department launched a new program today to showcase America's support for the men and women of the armed forces and the myriad ways the country is expressing that support.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - "I couldn't see myself growing up fast enough in college to take care of business, and I knew the Corps could help," Marine Cpl. Anthony F. Nagle explained.

WASHINGTON - Each November, Americans set aside a special day to give thanks for the blessings that come with the privilege of citizenship in our great country.

WASHINGTON - As a Defense Department contractor, Computer Systems Center Inc. has a connection with the military. But now that connection hits home, for Marines and their families.

WASHINGTON - I'd like to wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving. Among the many blessings Americans can be thankful for is the fact that every day, brave service men and women are willing to go into harm's way to defend our freedom.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Wheelchair-bound and recovering from an explosion that paralyzed him, Army Staff Sgt. Eugene "Gene" Simpson Jr. was joking and laughing heartily as more than 200 people at American Legion Post 364 here expressed their appreciation for his heroic service in Iraq.

QUITO, Ecuador - Drug trafficking and the security threat it creates were key topics discussed here this week by defense ministers and their delegations attending the sixth Defense Ministerial of the Americas.

WASHINGTON - Senior Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine leaders thanked Congress for its support of troops and their families in the global war on terrorism at a House Armed Services Committee hearing here Nov. 17.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi military forces distinguished themselves during fighting against insurgents during the recent Fallujah operation, senior U.S. Army and Marine Corps generals told House members here Nov. 17.

WASHINGTON - It happened to Steve Cobb during his first tour in Vietnam with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade. He was wounded in combat - four times.

WASHINGTON - "I joined the Army not only to serve this country, but because I had an obligation to my family," said Army Pfc. Richard Abrams.

WASHINGTON - Melissa Edwards works 55 hours a week as a nanny, but evenings and weekends she collects music -- but not for herself.

WASHINGTON - Although the Iraqi city of Fallujah is secure now that Marines there control the city, it is not yet safe for residents to return, the commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force told reporters today.

WASHINGTON - President Bush turned the nation's thoughts to servicemembers and their families during a pre-Thanksgiving White House event Nov. 17.

QUITO, Ecuador - Defense ministers from 34 nations throughout the Western Hemisphere opened the Defense Ministerial of the Americas here Nov. 17 to discuss ways to improve inter-American security.

WASHINGTON - More than 900,000 servicemembers serving worldwide will be able to write and call home during this holiday season thanks to the generosity of Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

WASHINGTON - A new song by a former soldier and country music songwriter and performer pays tribute to the men and women in uniform he said sacrifice the comforts of home and their loved ones for the freedoms America enjoys.

WASHINGTON - Joined at the seams by a sense of duty and the Internet, quilters from across the country who know little of each other are using their craft to help remember servicemembers killed in the war on terror.

WASHINGTON - Citing "significantly fewer" incidents during Ramadan this year than in the past two years' observances, the security situation in Afghanistan continues to show improvement, a military spokesman said today in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

WASHINGTON - Six servicemembers were honored for heroism in the global war on terror at an award dinner Nov. 15 in Arlington, Va.

CAMP Al-ISTIQLAL, Iraq - The troops crammed into the back of the Bradley fighting vehicle, shoulder to shoulder. It was Veterans Day, Nov. 11. As the hatch closed shutting out the light of midday, the faces of these 1st Cavalry Division soldiers held a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

WASHINGTON - Incoming National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley has broad experience across the national security landscape.

WASHINGTON - The National Football League's support of America's armed forces during the war against global terrorism continues a tradition that's been maintained since World War II, the organization's chief executive noted Nov. 12.

WASHINGTON - One of the Defense Department's top doctors said he applauds any servicemember planning to use the American Cancer Society's 28th Great American Smokeout as their springboard to quit smoking.

QUITO, Ecuador - "Very upbeat" is the appraisal of a series of meetings here Nov. 16 between Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the defense ministers of Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and seven Central American countries.

WASHINGTON - It's not every day a 15-year-old gets to meet the president of the United States, but Shauna Fleming of Orange, Calif., is no ordinary teenager.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - "I knew I would be good at what I do, and I love helping people. I'm glad I joined because it gave me the opportunity to work with Marines and teach them what they need to know to get ready for deployment," explained Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shandon E. Torres.

DOHA, Qatar - Reflecting on what he had just seen over a three-day visit to Iraq, U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid said today that the enemy cannot militarily defeat U.S. troops or coalition forces fighting to free the country of terrorists and insurgents.

QUITO, Ecuador - Latin American support for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti was a top agenda item during a bilateral meeting here today between Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Argentine Defense Minister Jose Pampuro.

DOHA, Qatar - Japanese troops extended a warm welcome to U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid today on their base in Samawah, Iraq, where the commander of U.S. Central Command made the final stop of a three-day visit to coalition forces in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - One 13th Corps Support Command soldier died and one was injured after an improvised explosive device blew up on their convoy near Qayarrah West Airfield in northern Iraq today.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers who helped bring democracy to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom are now helping ensure that the democratic process moves forward here at home.

QUITO, Ecuador - The United States and Ecuador are committed to working together to fight drug trafficking in the region, an important fund- raising source for extremists working against civil order, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While the battle against terrorists and insurgents moved from house to house through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq, a group of U.S. soldiers on the outskirts of the city rained precise destruction down on the enemy in support of the coalition's front-line fighters.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition troops and Iraqi military forces are destroying the last pockets of resistance by insurgents and terrorists in Fallujah, Iraq, and they are beginning to clean up the city and destroy weapons caches and booby traps in the city, Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz said Nov. 15 during an interview here.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wrapped up his first trip to Iraq since April with a series of unit visits and high-level meetings Nov. 15.

QUITO, Ecuador - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld praised President Bush's two nominations today to the national security team: Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state and Steven Hadley as national security adviser.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents and terrorists will inflict all the damage they can and will continue to try to frighten and intimidate Iraqi citizens and security forces as they try to stop the country's upcoming elections, Iraq's interim prime minister said here today.

QUITO, Ecuador - Terrorists and other enemies of civil order are smart enough to identify and take advantage of gaps in established security systems -- so nations need to work cooperatively to "be smarter and quicker" to find new ways to foil them, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces now control the city of Fallujah, Iraq, a senior American Marine officer said today.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator L. Paul Bremer stopped by the Defense Department's inspector general headquarters today to receive the 2004 Joseph H. Sherick Award.

WASHINGTON - Benefits of being in the military, "especially for married military personnel," and "great opportunities for advancement" have kept Army Master Sgt. Jon Connor serving.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers operating in the Iraqi city of Baqubah were attacked today by insurgents using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A top Iraqi military leader today praised coalition efforts to free Fallujah of terrorists and insurgent fighters.

QUITO, Ecuador - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and 33 more defense ministers from throughout the Western Hemisphere are joining here today for the Defense Ministerial of the Americas conference, focused on strengthening the inter-American security system.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The battle against insurgents and terrorists being waged by U.S. troops, Iraqi military units and coalition allies in Fallujah, Iraq, is "decisive," according to the commander of the U.S. Central Command.

QUITO, Ecuador - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today he has "thoroughly enjoyed" working with Secretary of State Colin Powell and "will miss not working closely with him" after Powell steps down from his post.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The commanders of two Army divisions playing a key role in coalition operations in Iraq expressed optimism when Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of the U.S. Central Command, visited their headquarters today.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - With no other Iraqi city offering them the safe haven they found in Fallujah, insurgents face relentless pursuit by coalition forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said here today.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - who are currently fighting to destroy remaining pockets of insurgents and terrorists in the city, according to Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Anyone in Iraq considering forming a temporary alliance with insurgents to gain some sort of tactical advantage will find the coalition won't view it as temporary, the commander of U.S. Central Command said here tonight.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld got a bird's-eye view of the Panama Canal today during an overflight in an Army Black Hawk helicopter, after which he praised the Panamanians for their commitment to ensuring the security of the strategically important waterway.

WASHINGTON - Anti-Iraqi forces attacked 1st Infantry Division soldiers with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades today in Tikrit, Iraq.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Panamanian Minister of Justice Hector Aleman reaffirmed their countries' continued commitment to working together to ensure the security of the region, including the strategic Panama Canal.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived here this evening to begin a whirlwind series of meetings with key commanders in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush promised the nation and the world today that terrorists holding the population of Fallujah in "the grip of fear" will be defeated, Iraq will be free, and the world will be more secure.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld thanked Nicaraguas leader for his strong support for security and cooperation in the Americans and for being a strong and resolute partner in the global struggle against terrorism.

SAN SALVADOR - Fifteen years ago today, Salvadoran Army 1st Sgt. Fredy Adolfo Castro was recovering from severe leg wounds received the previous day during the bloody civil war that threatened his country.

WASHINGTON - As fighting continues in Fallujah, Iraq, coalition forces control 80 percent of the city, a top U.S. Marine general said in Iraq today.

WASHINGTON - The United States and Great Britain will continue to work together to bring stability and democracy to Iraq and fight the global war on terror, the leaders of both countries said at the White House today.

WASHINGTON - Veterans Day is special for Ida E. Simpson, because it gives her a chance to reflect on serving her country during World War II, which was something she thought a woman in those days wouldn't be able to do.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The centerpiece of this year's Veterans Day observance at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial was the opening of a new exhibit titled, "The Comfort Quilt."

WASHINGTON - A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by anti-Iraqi forces northeast of Baghdad at about 4:30 p.m. Iraq time today.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - The goal of the reconstruction process in Afghanistan is for the people to be able to stand on their own. In Khowst province, the Civil Military Operations Center is pioneering a way to speed up that process.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Throughout Afghanistan, units rely on each other for mission accomplishment. One example of this was apparent during a sling-load mission conducted by Logistics Task Force 524.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - The fight in Fallujah, Iraq, is progressing well and will end in success, with Fallujah no longer offering a safe haven for extremists and terrorists, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters traveling here with him Nov. 11.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld thanked El Salvador for its contributions in the war on terror and honored veterans of all nations and of all wars who "have stood together in the fight for freedom."

WASHINGTON - Veterans Day is about remembering the men and women who have taken up arms to defend our country, President Bush said in his address to those gathered at Arlington National Cemetery today.

WASHINGTON - Military operations to retake the insurgent-held Iraqi city of Fallujah are progressing "ahead of schedule," a top U.S. Marine commander there said today.

WASHINGTON - Insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, have paid "a heavy price for their resistance," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi National Guard soldiers and soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division's Stryker Brigade Combat Team began offensive operations against known concentrations of insurgents in southeastern and southwestern Mosul, Iraq, today at the Ninevah province governor's request.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. military commanders in Fallujah, Iraq, said today they are pleased with operations in the city, but more remains to be done.

WASHINGTON - "Veterans Day is a remembrance of all the veterans that made the supreme sacrifice all the people who died making a contribution to the freedom of this country. It's also a day of remembrance of the ones who were fortunate enough not to die, but contributed to the freedom of the country," said Lanier Phillips.

WASHINGTON - Heroes of the past met the heroes of today during the dedication ceremony here for the Smithsonian Institution's exhibition "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War."

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - "Because I am Middle Eastern and speak the language, it will be easy for me to gain the Iraqi peoples' trust," Marine Lance Cpl. Ahmad M. Ibrahim said.

WASHINGTON - Combat Service Support Battalion 10, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, recently was announced as the 2004 Phoenix Award winner during the 2004 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Houston.

WASHINGTON - Armistice Day was celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the silencing of the guns in the "war to end all wars." The day is also observed by other nations that fought in World War I.

WASHINGTON - Some insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, have been using mosques for fighting positions and weapons-storage sites, U.S. military officials said.

WASHINGTON - America can learn "so much" from its veterans, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs has designed a new identity card for veterans that will safeguard confidential information while combating identity theft.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Air Force Airman Michael Roomsburg stopped the Humvee as Staff Sgt. Chad Marten called to notify the security forces command post that the Delta-5 external security response team was set to patrol the outer perimeter road.

WASHINGTON - Not only is Walter R. Bieder, 83, a true American hero, he's one of the luckiest men alive.

WASHINGTON - President Bush visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here Nov. 9 and issued a proclamation urging all Americans "to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans" during National Veterans Awareness Week, Nov. 7 to 13.

WASHINGTON - Two hundred twenty-nine years ago, Marines came ashore from sailing ships; today they come off large amphibious ships. But the service's core values have remained the same, the top Marine general said.

WASHINGTON - Active duty, reserve and retired U.S. military personnel and their family members will receive 10 percent off their purchases in recognition of Veterans Day at The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, company officials announced today.

WASHINGTON - Marines who routinely practice self-discipline are the desired result of 12 weeks of arduous training, explained a Marine drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

WASHINGTON - This Veterans Day we pause to honor and thank our veterans, past and present those who have served and those who are serving today around the world advancing freedom and the cause of liberty.

WASHINGTON - In 1834, the American patriot, Daniel Webster, told the United States Senate: "God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it."

WASHINGTON - The nation extends its prayers to the U.S. forces fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, as well as their loved ones as they carry out "the hard work necessary for a free Iraq to emerge," President Bush said Nov. 9.

WASHINGTON - The Army today hosted a Pentagon media roundtable to discuss a new support program aimed at helping disabled soldiers and their families through the rehabilitation and transition process.

WASHINGTON - An Arizona nonprofit organization is forwarding food donations to assist National Guard families in the state.

WASHINGTON - A newly planted weeping cherry tree on the grounds of the Pentagon will serve as a living memorial to the children killed or who lost parents during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the building.

WASHINGTON - Sears, Roebuck and Co. is proving to be a friend of military families -- from making up lost pay for its employees called to active duty in the National Guard and reserve, to donating $2 million to the National Military Family Association for military family programs.

WASHINGTON - Happy 229th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps. Marines have built a legacy of warfighting excellence that has endured throughout our Nation's history a history that continues to be written every day around the globe. The word "Marine" continues to inspire fear in our enemies, hope for those in need, and trust on the part of our allies.

WASHINGTON - The hunt for insurgents and terrorists in Fallujah continues "with speed, not haste," a top U.S. commander in Iraq said today.

WASHINGTON - "Every Marine's a rifleman," Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Soignet remarked Nov. 2 amid the pop and crack of scores of M-16 rifles firing at Chosin Range at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

WASHINGTON - The coffee giant Starbucks and the American Red Cross are teaming up to deliver hot java to U.S. servicemembers serving overseas in the war against global terrorism.

WASHINGTON - Unmanned aerial vehicles are earning star status in the global war on terror, becoming the most-requested capability among combatant commanders in Southwest Asia and increasing fourfold in that theater during the last year alone, according to the deputy director of the Pentagon's UAV planning task force.

WASHINGTON - Despite the conflict inside Fallujah and instability in other Iraqi cities, Iraqi government and Multinational Force Iraq leaders say they are ready to take the necessary measures if a humanitarian crisis arises.

WASHINGTON - Artillery rounds pounded insurgent positions in Fallujah, Iraq, through much of the night, and multinational forces have pushed their way through a third of the city, officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The government is appealing a Nov. 8 federal judge's ruling that brought a halt to a military commission hearing in a war- crimes trial against an enemy combatant being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

WASHINGTON - With offensive operations under way in Fallujah, Iraq, the families of the Marines involved in the effort are relying on their base's extensive family-support network and each other as they watch news events unfold thousands of miles away.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - "I wanted something more" out of life, Marine Corps Recruit Nina N. Garcia said a few days before she was to graduate from recruit training here.

MIAMI - Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock assumed command of U.S. Southern Command from Army Gen. James T. Hill during a ceremony at command headquarters here today.

WASHINGTON - Time will tell, but 18 months before Oct. 9, no one gave the Afghan elections much of a chance, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during an American Forces Press Service interview today.

WASHINGTON - Air Force leaders unveiled a new pin at the Pentagon today to recognize the contributions of military spouses.

WASHINGTON - Two suspected vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices detonated within minutes of each other today, targeting two Christian churches in southern Baghdad, Iraq.

DALLAS - Convenience food is a familiar part of Americans' daily lives. And for American troops in Iraq who want a change from meals ready to eat, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service continues its tradition of bringing a taste of home to troops deployed in support of the war on terror.

WASHINGTON - American and Iraqi forces are in combat against terrorists and insurgents in the rebel Iraqi city of Fallujah, Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. said today.

WASHINGTON - Marines have families, too, and family programs are in place for both recruits and training cadre at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - With coalition forces stationed throughout Afghanistan, logistical support is one of the most important factors in supporting the fight against terrorism. While there is more than one way to push the necessary supplies to remote forward operating bases, the Marines of Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 769 used their CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters to keep everything moving.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - "I wasn't disciplined enough for college," said Marine Corps recruit Joseph E. Solinger.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces began their long-awaited assault today against insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, in an operation dubbed "Al Fajr," the Iraqi word for dawn.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan - As the battlefield of the 21st century evolves, so does the equipment that keeps soldiers in the fight. And so do the methods for getting that equipment to the soldiers.

WASHINGTON - The term "weekend warriors" no longer applies to today's National Guardsmen and reservists, the Defense Department's top reserve affairs official said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - In Afghanistan, Air Force Reserve and active-duty pilots have teamed together to protect U.S. and coalition forces from attackers whose aim is to disrupt national stability and to prevent infrastructure improvements, including the building of wells, schools and roads.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department's top civilian today predicted victory for U.S., coalition and Iraqi forces as they launched large- scale attacks on insurgent positions in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - Marine recruits headed for Parris know they won't be seeing the Eiffel Tower or experience romantic strolls along the Seine River.

WASHINGTON - Two American soldiers were killed today and several others wounded during two separate attacks on convoys in and near Baghdad.

BAGHDAD - As fighting between militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and multinational forces has subsided, the focus for Task Force Baghdad soldiers has shifted from combat operations to reconstruction, military officials here said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issued a statement today declaring a state of emergency throughout Iraq, except for the Kurdish region in the north.

WASHINGTON - Coalition officials in Kabul, Afghanistan, today said that the coalition continues to monitor the situation involving the detention of three U.N. election workers: Shiqipe Habibi, Angelilto Nayan, and Anetta Flanigan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military operations in Iraq are becoming more fluid as Iraqi security forces and elements from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force press forward with efforts to disrupt anti-Iraq forces in Fallujah and Ramadi.

WASHINGTION - The meal is called Iftar, meaning to "break the day's fast." It is meal enjoyed by Muslims all over the world to end a day of fasting during Ramadan, which ends this month.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Before a full house, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command from Air Force Gen. Ed Eberhart in ceremonies here Nov. 5.

WASHINGTON - You can change your name and appearance. You can get phony documents that back up your alias. But it's nearly impossible to escape the personal signature left by your fingerprints.

WASHINGTON - At 10 a.m. today, U.S. Central Command launched its new electronic newsletter. Within minutes, the product had about 100 subscribers.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. soldiers on a civil affairs mission this week distributed medical and dental supplies to several Baghdad neighborhoods.

WASHINGTON - They may not see much by the dawn's early light, but apparently well over half of all Americans are completely in the dark when it comes to the words of the national anthem, according to a Harris Interactive Survey of 2,204 Americans.

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, BALAD, Iraq - "I wanted to join the Army since I was young," said Sgt. Lisa Phillips, 630th Transportation Company, from Washington, Pa.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. soldiers died in separate incidents in Iraq Nov. 4 and today.

WASHINGTON - The Joint Task Force Armed Forces Inaugural Committee announced Nov. 3, the day after the elections, that it's open for business.

WASHINGTON - Increased education benefits and more flexibility in awarding bonuses are among the quality-of-life improvements targeting National Guard and Reserve servicemembers in the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act.

WASHINGTON - As part of celebrating 229 years of service on Nov. 10, the Marine Corps is preparing for its annual worship service Nov. 7 at Washington National Cathedral here.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - For two AH-64D Apache Longbow pilots, the night of Oct. 16 was just a regular night flying a reconnaissance mission around southern Baghdad.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - In just over three years, Afghanistan has made tremendous strides in security and reconstruction -- such great strides that the country's citizens were able to participate in a safe, democratic election last month.

WASHINGTON - President Bush painted the broad outlines of his agenda for a second term, but anchoring the painting is winning the war on terror.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Furthering transformation, along with the global war on terror, is the mission over the next year, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at an Institute of Land Warfare Forum here today.

FORT HOOD, Texas - "My grandfather was a World War II veteran and my uncles served in Vietnam," said Command Sgt. Maj. Ron Riling, 4th Infantry Division's top ranking enlisted soldier.

WASHINGTON - Key Iraqi civilian and military leaders arrived at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Norway this week to attend an eight-day pilot training course designed to teach them how to promote civil-military cooperation as they build their security institutions.

WASHINGTON - The 2005 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law Oct. 28, contains new medical benefits for activated reservists and National Guardsmen and extends some other benefits that had been enacted temporarily.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military and Iraqi security forces stepped up offensive operations against insurgent strongholds in Fallujah overnight by attacking several fortified fighting positions in the city.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi and multinational force officials are taking on a $50 million program to bring 200 water treatment and sewage facilities in Iraq up to modern standards.

ARGHANDAB DISTRICT, Afghanistan - The nurse tried to soothe the screaming baby as the physician assistant squeezed liquid medication into the infant's mouth.

WASHINGTON - Sailors and Marines stationed onboard ships will pay 50 percent less when phoning loved ones back home, starting Nov. 15.

WASHINGTON - President Bush did not forget the men and women of the armed forces in his post-election acceptance speech here today.

WASHINGTON - Of the roughly 200 detainees the United States has released from its Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention facility, intelligence claims that at least 10 returned to terrorist activity, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs said here Nov. 2.

FORT LEE, Va. - The fifth year of the Scholarships for Military Children program is under way.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - As the nation waited for confirmation of the identity of its next president, about 50 members of the five United States military services today earned the right to vote in the 2008 election by becoming naturalized U.S. citizens here.

WASHINGTON - There's good news for federal employees who have filed claims that their bosses denied them job rights because of their National Guard or reserve service, an attorney with the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve told the American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush will remain the commander in chief of the U.S. military for four more years.

WASHINGTON - A 1st Infantry Division soldier was killed and another was injured today after their combat patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device near Salmar Pak, Iraq.

KIRKUK, Iraq - As if hailing a famous rock star's performance, Iraqi children shouted and waved to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Light) soldiers and Iraqi police who visited the Halima Al-Sadeea Elementary School Oct. 21 to hand out school supplies as part of "Operation Crayon."

WASHINGTON - A U.S.-Canadian planning group is studying whether the two countries should adopt a maritime equivalent of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the binational command that has watched the skies for aerospace threats since 1958.

WASHINGTON - A Peter Max poster specially created to benefit the Pentagon Memorial Fund will now be sold at the Fort America shop located in the Pentagon.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - The first presidential election in Afghanistan has united more than a country; it has also brought together two brothers who serve in the U.S. military from opposite sides of the globe.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - As the Iraqi climate begins to creep into biting winter cold, the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team "Commandos," deployed from Fort Drum, N.Y., are preparing to help the local government provide a little warmth to the citizens of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Country music sensation Clint Black will treat servicemembers to a rousing Veterans Day concert next week to thank them for their contributions to U.S. national defense.

WASHINGTON - Military officials in Baghdad, Iraq, said today that news reports of a U.S. servicemember being kidnapped near Samarra are not true.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense Education Agency wants to hear the opinions of its students, parents and teachers. The agency launched its 2004 Customer Satisfaction Survey Nov. 1.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has temporarily paused the anthrax vaccination program because of an injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal 2005 National Defense Authorization Act provides the equipment the American military needs to fight the war on terror.

KIGALI, Rwanda - On Oct. 30 a C-130 sat unceremoniously on the tarmac of Kigali International Airport here, waiting for the arrival of Rwandan troops.

WASHINGTON - President Bush signed the $420.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act Oct. 28.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal 2005 National Defense Authorization Act has made two changes available for some stateside voters, effective, where applicable, for the Nov. 2 election.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi security forces continue to receive large shipments of weapons and materiel from the Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, U.S. military officials said today.

WASHINGTON - It began about two decades ago as part of The Great American Family project.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A British armored battle group of about 850 soldiers, led by the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment, has deployed from Basra, Iraq, to an area south of Baghdad to bolster U.S. and Iraqi forces hunting down insurgents.